Police, community and calendar briefs for July 23, 2013

Published: Monday, July 22, 2013 at 10:17 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, July 22, 2013 at 10:17 p.m.

Farm vehicle reported stolen

A $10,000 farm vehicle was reported stolen Sunday from the farm of Olympic equestrian competitors David and Karen O’Connor.

The 2008 John Deere Gator was noticed missing on Sunday morning from the O’Connor Event Team farm at 6500 NW 110th St., Reddick. An air compressor also was missing, according to Marion County Sheriff’s Office reports.

A maintenance worker who stays in an apartment in the barn where the items were stored said he did not stay there Saturday night because of a storm that hit the Silver Springs Shores area where he was visiting, according to reports.

Anyone with information about the case can call the Sheriff’s Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP.

Community

Library seeks volunteer readers

The Marion County Public Library System is looking for volunteer reader for its “Library Express” children’s reading program.

Applications may be obtained at http://library.marioncountyfl.org. Applicants must be able to commit to the program schedule and pass a background check.

Readers will provide children’s story time sessions once per month from September to May at various Head Start classrooms throughout the county.

The deadline to apply is Aug. 9.

For more information, call Jenny Ransone at 671-8551.

City seeks diversity award nominations

The One Ocala One America Racial Harmony and Cultural Awareness Task Force is accepting nominations for the 2013 Mary Sue Rich Diversity Award.

The task force seeks to identify individuals, organizations and businesses that have promoted racial harmony and cultural awareness in the city of Ocala and throughout Marion County.

This year commemorates the 10th anniversary of the task force.

The nomination deadline is 5 p.m. Sept. 13. Winners will be honored during the Racial Harmony Prayer Breakfast in October.

Nomination forms can be found at http://www.ocalafl.org/usa/.

For more information, contact Stan Creel at screel@Ocalafl.org.

Housing authority offers assistance

The Ocala Housing Authority has financial assistance for homeowners who qualify through the Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Assistance Program.